Vehicle seat

ABSTRACT

A seat for a vehicle is provided with a sliding device including a slide-lock mechanism, the sliding device sliding a seat body in a case of releasing the slide-lock mechanism, a seatback including a reclining device, the seatback being tilted forward in a case of releasing the reclining device, a seat cushion including a tip-up device, the seat cushion being tipped up in a case of operating the tip-up device and a walk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-in mechanism configured to release the slide-lock mechanism, release the reclining device and operate the tip-up device in proportion to a shifting length of the lever. The tip-up device is operated in a case where the lever is shifted in an intermediate position and the slide-lock mechanism and the reclining device are released in a case where the lever is shifted in an end position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

The present Application claims the benefit of priority to the followinginternational Applications: PCT Patent Application No. PCT/JP2003/003726titled “Seat for Vehicle” filed on Mar. 26, 2003 which published underPCT Article 21(2) on Oct. 9, 2003 as WO 03/082624 A1 in the Japaneselanguage and Japanese Patent Application No. 2002-94619 filed on Mar.29, 2002 (which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in theirentirety).

FIELD

The present invention relates to a seat for a vehicle such as anautomobile, a ship, an airplane or a railroad coach, and, morespecifically, to a seat for a vehicle making it easy for an occupant tomove within the vehicle.

BACKGROUND

A vehicle, such as an automobile, is generally provided with relativelylarge seats in comparison to the spatial dimensions of the interiorthereof so as to provide laid-back seating for occupants. Therefore itis often uneasy for the occupants to move within the vehicle.

Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 61-205524, Japanese UtilityModel Laid-open No. 63-191942 and 62-84536 disclose arts related to avehicle seat provided with a foldable seatback and a slidable seatcushion, what is called “a walk-in mechanism”. These arts make a seatcapable of folding the seatback and sliding movement of the whole of theseat.

However, a conventional vehicle seat provided with the disclosed walk-inmechanism slides the seat while holding the seat cushion in asubstantially horizontal position thereby limiting the sliding distanceof the seat in fore-aft direction. Therefore the conventional vehicleseat even equipped with the walk-in mechanism cannot make itsufficiently easy for occupants to move within the vehicle.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is done in view of the above problem and isintended for providing a seat for a vehicle, which is capable of tiltinga seatback forward as well as tipping a seat cushion up and henceenables longer sliding of the seat so as to ensure a space for making iteasy for occupants to move within the vehicle, with an easy-operabilityof such operations.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a seat for avehicle includes a sliding device having a slide-lock mechanism. Thesliding device is configured to move (e.g., slide) a seat body uponreleasing the slide-lock mechanism, a seatback including a recliningdevice, the seatback being tilted forward in a case of releasing thereclining device, a seat cushion including a tip-up device, the seatcushion being tipped up in a case of operating the tip-up device and awalk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-in mechanism configured torelease the slide-lock mechanism, release the reclining device andoperate the tip-up device in proportion to a shifting length of thelever.

The tip-up device is operated in a case where the lever is shifted in anintermediate position and the slide-lock mechanism and the recliningdevice are released in a case where the lever is shifted in an endposition.

A shift of the lever alone enables tipping-up the seat cushion,reclining the seatback and sliding the seat. The seat for a vehicleaccording to the present invention can be slid in a larger distance thanthe seats according to the prior arts because the seat cushion movesaccompanying with tipping-up thereof. Such a movement as well asreclining the seatback make it easy for an occupant to move within thevehicle.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a seat apparatus according to anembodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the seat apparatus according to the embodimentof the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a side view of a lifter device of the seat apparatus accordingto the embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of the seat apparatus according to the embodimentof the present invention, specifically showing a tip-up device and awalk-in mechanism; and

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a reclining device of the seat apparatusaccording to the embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A seat for a vehicle, in which a shift of a lever alone enablestipping-up of a seat cushion, reclining of a seatback, and sliding theseat is provided. The seat can be slid in a relatively greater andlarger distance because the seat cushion moves accompanying withtipping-up thereof. Such a movement, as well as reclining the seatback,improves the ability of an occupant to move within the vehicle.

A seat apparatus 1 according to an embodiment of the present inventionwill be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5. Withreference to FIGS. 1 through 4, FR denotes “forward”, RR denotes“rearward”, UP denotes “upward” and LWR denotes “downward”. Thesedirections are defined for convenience of an explanation and anyembodiments opposed to such a definition are intended to be within thescope of the present invention.

The seat apparatus 1 comprises a basic framework of a seat for a vehicleand, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, is generally provided with a pair ofslide devices 2, a pair of support frames 3, a seat cushion portion 4, aseatback portion 5, a reclining device 6, a tip-up device 7, a lifterdevice 8 and a walk-in mechanism 9. The seat apparatus 1 may includeadditional features such as a headrest, a seat belt and a seat cover toprovide a seat for a vehicle, however, such features are not shown inthe Figures. The slide devices 2 are configured to be coupled to a bodyof the vehicle (not shown).

The slide devices 2 are provided with fixed rails 13 each having a sliton an upper side thereof, sliding rails 14, each of which is formed tohave an inverted T-letter shape and configured to slidably fitted into(e.g., engage) the slit, a slide-lock mechanism 15 for securing thesliding rails 14 in a desired position, and coil springs 16 which arerespectively stretched between the fixed rails 13 and the sliding rails14 so as to give force to (e.g., bias) the sliding rails 14 in a forwarddirection. Furthermore, though not shown in the Figures, rollers and/orball bearings for facilitating the relatively smooth sliding of thesliding rails 14 on the fixed rails 13 are further provided. The slidedevices 2 are provided at both sides of the seat in a symmetrical mannerand coupled to a floor 10 (see FIG. 2) of a vehicle body by firstbrackets 11 provided at a front thereof of the slide devices 2 andsecond brackets 12 provided at a rear thereof of the slide devices 2.

The support frames 3 are comprised of a pair of frame bodies 21 made ofsteel sheets formed in a substantially right triangular shape andrespectively provided with oval openings 22. The paired frame bodies 21are respectively fixed on the pair of fixed rails 14 in a manner that abase of the right triangle is directed downward, a side orthogonal tothe base is vertically directed and a remaining hypotenuse is directedforward. The oval openings 22 are formed in an oval shape directedobliquely upward and forward so as to allow movement of a third shaftportion 27 described later.

As shown in FIG. 3, the lifter device 8 is provided with a first shaftportion 23, a second shaft portion 24, which are projectingly providedon inner sides of the paired frame bodies 21, a gear 25 pivotallysupported by the first shaft portion 23 and a sector gear 26 pivotallysupported by the second shaft portion 24. The sector gear 26 has gearteeth 26 a formed on the front side thereof, which engage with the gear25 pivotally supported in front of the sector gear 26. The oval openings22 are formed so that the major axes thereof substantially correspondwith an arc around the first shaft portion 24. The gear 25 is capable ofrotating by means of operation means 30. When lifting the operationmeans 30 upward, rotation of the gear 25 lets the sector gear 26 swingdownward and a front end portion 31 b of a cushion frame 31 swingupward. When reversely operating the operation means 30, the front endportion 31 b swings downward.

As shown in FIG. 1, the seat cushion portion 4 is provided with aclosed-loop-like cushion frame 31, a plurality of brackets 35 formed onthe cushion frame 31 and a plurality of S-shape springs 32 respectivelystretched in a fore-aft direction via the plurality of brackets 35. Theseat cushion portion 4 is covered with a pad and a cover (not shown) toprovide a seat cushion. A rear end portion 31 a of the cushion frame 31is coupled to the third shaft portion 27. The cushion frame 31 isfurther provided with brackets 34 and absorbers 33 made of any suitablematerial having viscoelasticity such as rubber. The absorbers 33 arelaid on a peripheral surface of an upper side of the second shaftportion 24 between the second shaft portion 24 and the brackets 34. Theabsorbers 33 reduce noise which may be generated when the cushion frame31 hits the second shaft portion 24.

The second shaft portion 24 of the sector gear 26 is provided with afixed shaft 28 coupled to the frame bodies 21 and rotation shafts 29rotatably and pivotally supported by the fixed shaft 28. The fixed shaft28 and the rotation shafts 29 are lubricated with a proper lubricantsuch as grease. The fixed shaft 28 is provided with retaining means,such as conically expanded both ends thereof, so as to prevent therotation shafts 29 from displacement.

The seatback portion 5 is provided with a seatback frame 41, sub-frames42, upper end portions 42 b of which are welded and fixed with rearsides of lower end portions 41 a of the seatback frame 41, and aplurality of wires 43 laid between both sides of the seatback frame 41.The seatback portion 5 is covered with a pad and a cover, which are notshown in the drawings, so as to form a seatback. The lower end portion41 a of the seatback frame 41 and lower end portion 42 a of thesub-frame 42 are separated to provide a space in a fore-aft direction.According to one embodiment, the reclining device 6 is provided withinthe space defined by lower end portions 41 a and 42 a. The seatbackportion 5 is provided with a plurality of holders 45 on an upper endthereof so as to support a headrest (not shown).

The reclining device 6 is provided with covers 51 for respectivelycovering the lower end portions 41 a and the lower end portions 42 a ofthe sub-frames 42, support members 52, base plates 53 supported on theupper end of the frame bodies 21, springs 54 for constantly pressing(e.g., biasing) the seatback portion 5 forward and a device lever 55 forreleasing a lock of the reclining device 6. When releasing the lock ofthe reclining device 6, the seatback portion 5 tilts forward by thepressing force of the springs 54. The lower end portions 41 a of theseatback frame 41 are welded with front end portions of the covers 51and the lower end portions 42 a of the sub-frames 42 are welded withrear end portions of the covers 51, thereby the seatback frame 41 iscoupled to the covers 51.

As shown in FIG. 4, the tip-up device 7 is provided with restrictionportions 61, arms 63 extending reward from the third shaft portion 27and fifth shaft portions 65 projectingly provided in front of the thirdshaft portion 27. The tip-up device 7 is fitted into the third shaftportion 27 so as to be exterior to the frame bodies 21. The restrictionportion 61 is further provided with a through-hole 62 formed in a shapelike an arc, which has a center on the third shaft portion 27. Each arm63 is further provided with a fourth shaft portion 64 projectinglyprovided on an outer surface thereof and the fourth shaft portion 64 ismovably fitted in the through-hole 62. Between the fourth shaft portions64 and the fifth shaft portions 65, coil springs 66 are respectivelylaid and stretched. The fourth shaft portions 64 rotate around the thirdshaft portion 27 and the springs 66 are laid at the fifth shaft portions65 disposed ahead of the third shaft portion 27, thereby the springs 66bias the fourth shaft portions 64 toward an upper end or a lower end ofthe through-hole 62. Therefore the vicinity of the center of thethrough-hole 62 is a dead point where the force by the springs 66 islost and unstable.

As shown in FIGS. 2 and 4, the walk-in mechanism 9 is provided with apedal lever 71, a slide-release link 74 cooperatively working with thepedal lever 71 and a slide-release plate 72. The pedal lever 71 extendsfrom the third shaft portion 27 of the cushion frame 31 to a lower sideof the seat apparatus 1 and has a pivot pin 71 a at a middle thereof.The slide-release link 74 is formed in a substantially linear shape, afront end thereof is a fork end 74 b having a cut 75 and a rear end 74 ais rotatably and pivotaly supported by the pivot pin 71 a. Theslide-release plate 72 is a flat plate having a first wing 72 a and asecond wing 72 b and being formed in a boomerang-like shape. Theslide-release plate 72 is rotatably and pivotally supported by the framebodies 21 with a sixth shaft portion 73. A pin 76 is projectingly formedon a tip end of the first wing 72 a and slidably fitted to the cut 75. Aproper clearance exists between a rear end 81 of the cut 75 and the pin76. Slide-lock-release wires 78 and 77 are respectively connected to thefirst wing 72 a and the second wing 72 b. A reclining-release wire 79linking with the reclining device 6 is connected to a middle of thepedal lever 71. A spring 80 constantly biases the slide-release plate 72rearward.

The walk-in mechanism 9 regulates operation of the slide-lock device 15,the reclining device 6 and the tip-up device 7 in proportion to ashifting length of the pedal lever 71. When shifting the pedal lever 71down, the cushion frame 31 swings upward around the third shaft portion27. When further shifting the pedal lever 71 down in an intermediateposition thereof, the fourth shaft portions 64 swing upward over thedead point and is hence given downward force by the springs 66, therebythe cushion frame 31 leaps up (tips up). Simultaneously, the rear end 74b of the slide-release link 74 is pressed downward and forward by thepedal lever 71, however, the pin 76 keeps still because the properclearance exists between the rear end 81 and the pin 76. Meanwhile, whenpressing the cushion frame 31 downward so that the fourth shaft portions64 go over the dead point, the cushion frame 31 easily returns to itsoriginal position by means of the force by the springs 66.

When shifting the pedal lever 71 down in an end position thereof, therear end 81 abuts and presses the pin 76 forward. Thereby theslide-release plate 72 swings around the sixth shaft portion 73 and theslide-release wires 77 and 78 are pulled so that the slide-lockmechanism 15 is released. Provided that the slide-lock mechanism 15 isreleased, the sliding rails 14 move forward by means of the force by thespring 16. Simultaneously, the reclining-release wire 79 is pulleddownward so that the reclining device 6 is released, thereby theseatback portion 5 can be tilted forward.

Namely, when shifting the pedal lever 71 downward to a considerableextent, tipping-up of the seat cushion portion 4, tilting of theseatback portion 5 and moving forward of the sliding rails 14 aresimultaneously achieved. Moreover, the tipping-up of the seat cushionportion 4 makes it possible to slide whole of the seat forward in alarge distance.

Although the invention has been described above by reference to certainembodiments of the invention, the invention is not limited to theembodiments described above. Modifications and variations of theembodiments described above will occur to those skilled in the art, inlight of the above teachings.

1. A seat for a vehicle comprising: a sliding device including aslide-lock mechanism, the sliding device configured to slide a seat bodyupon releasing the slide-lock mechanism; a seatback including areclining device, the seatback configured to be tilted forward uponreleasing the reclining device; a seat cushion including a tip-updevice, the seat cushion configured to be tipped up upon operating thetip-up device; and a walk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-inmechanism configured to release the slide-lock mechanism, release thereclining device, and operate the tip-up device relative to a positionof the lever.
 2. The seat of claim 1, wherein the walk-in mechanism isconfigured to operate the tip-up device upon moving the lever to anintermediate position, and to release the slide-lock mechanism and thereclining device upon moving the lever to an end position.
 3. The seatof claim 1, wherein the walk-in mechanism comprises: a slide-releaselink pivotally supported by the lever; and a slide-release plateincluding a slide-release wire connected to the slide-lock mechanism, areclining-release wire connected to the reclining device and a pinleaving a clearance to the slide-release link, the lever being connectedto the tip-up device to operate the tip-up device upon moving the leverto an intermediate position, the lever being configured to clear theclearance so that the pin presses the slide-release link whereby theslide-release plate swings and the slide-release wire and thereclining-release wire are pulled so as to release the slide-lockmechanism and the reclining device upon moving the lever to an endposition.
 4. A seat for a vehicle comprising: a sliding device includinga slide-lock mechanism, the sliding device configured to slide a seatbody upon releasing the slide-lock mechanism; a seatback including areclining device, the seatback configured to be tilted forward uponreleasing the reclining device; a seat cushion including a tip-updevice, the seat cushion configured to be tipped up upon operating thetip-up device; and a walk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-inmechanism configured to release the slide-lock mechanism, release thereclining device, and operate the tip-up device relative to a positionof the lever, wherein the walk-in mechanism is configured to operate thetip-up device upon moving the lever to an intermediate position, and torelease the slide-lock mechanism and the reclining device upon movingthe lever to an end position.
 5. The seat of claim 4, wherein thewalk-in mechanism comprises: a slide-release link pivotally supported bythe lever; and a slide-release plate including a slide-release wireconnected to the slide-lock mechanism, a reclining-release wireconnected to the reclining device and a pin leaving a clearance to theslide-release link, the lever being connected to the tip-up device tooperate the tip-up device upon moving the lever to an intermediateposition, the lever being configured to clear the clearance so that thepin presses the slide-release link whereby the slide-release plateswings and the slide-release wire and the reclining-release wire arepulled so as to release the slide-lock mechanism and the recliningdevice upon moving the lever to an end position.
 6. A vehicle seat,comprising: a sliding device for sliding the vehicle seat, the slidingdevice including a slide-lock mechanism; a seat cushion supported abovethe sliding device and including a tip-up device, the seat cushionconfigured to be tipped up upon operating the tip-up device; a seatbacksupported with respect to the seat cushion and including a recliningdevice, the seatback tilting forward upon release of the recliningdevice; and a walk-in mechanism including a lever, the walk-in mechanismconfigured to release the slide-lock mechanism and to release thereclining device and operate the tip-up device depending on the positionof the lever.
 7. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the walk-inmechanism is configured to operate the tip-up device in a case ofshifting the lever to a first position, to release the slide-lockmechanism and the reclining device in a case of shifting the lever to ansecond position.
 8. The vehicle seat of claim 6, wherein the walk-inmechanism comprises: a slide-release link pivotally supported by thelever; and a slide-release plate including a slide-release connectionconnected to the slide-lock mechanism, a reclining-release connectionconnected to the reclining device and a pin leaving a clearance to theslide-release link; wherein the lever is connected to the tip-up deviceto operate the tip-up device when the lever is shifted to the firstposition; wherein the lever is configured to clear the clearance so thatthe pin presses the slide-release connection whereby the slide-releaseplate moves and the slide-release connection and the reclining-releaseconnection are moved to release both the slide-lock mechanism and thereclining device in a case of shifting the lever to the second position.